Hey, Auckland, it’s not all about you in election year
Politicians have been out and about in the regions, announcing policies and pressing the flesh.
Political wisdom has long dictated elections are won in Auckland. It’s a platitude that’s wrong, for the fact it’s only half right.
So this one goes out to the regions, who have known for a long time there is more to this country than Auckland and that elections are actually won and lost right across the nation.
That goes doubly in any election where NZ First’s Winston Peters has gained a head of steam.
But with all polls pointing to Peters holding the balance of power come September 23, the fall of a marginal seat is irrelevant unless it determines the fall of a party. Aside from that, only the aggregate matters.
Of the 3,132,956 registered voters, just under a third live in Auckland. Obviously, political parties would reduce their presence there at their peril.
But seats are largely irrelevant when you’re dealing in the type of party vote share National is electorate wins have no effect on the number of seats commanded in the House.
It’s often said that if, for example, the low-turnout area of South Auckland really came out to vote, it’d be enough to shift the balance a few percentage points. Outside of Auckland, the same applies.
In an MMP environment, with Peters sitting pretty, a few percentage points can decide Governments.
It’s why National has for months now been announcing a range of grants from obscure funds towards regional infrastructure projects.
Just this week, Tourism Minister Paula Bennett announced $2.4m for four attractions in Rotorua and Southland; including $550,000 for a Classic Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill.
The week before, it was a $2m tourism and culture injection for Tairawhiti, in the Gisborne area, from Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.
A major rollout of new school buildings is well under way, and Transport Minister Simon Bridges last week promised to sit down with Gisborne officials.
As for Labour? Leader Andrew Little is hitting the regions every bit as much as the Prime Minister skipping Parliament two out of three days a week.
Where the economy is a vote-generator, this year it’s the regional economy, stupid. And the regional economy is a confused market place.
One region’s housing problem is no issue for a town that’s seeing the first signs of market growth in years. Unemployment is too high in places where some business owners are struggling to hire labourers. And stark inequality up north is an issue few regions in the deep south know the meaning of.
For Invercargill’s Transport World director Jocelyn O’Donnell, the recipient of $550,000 for Motorcycle Mecca, the funds were ‘‘wonderful’’.
It’s the proud home of more than 20 Burt Munro Indian motorcycles, in his home town no less, and O’Donnell said the money would allow for more exhibition space, bigger experiences and therefore more tourist dollars.
‘‘What this funding is really allowing Transport World to do is develop a more ambitious attraction,’’ she said.
No answer was forthcoming, however, as to whether it was enough to secure National some votes.
Oh well, minister, better hand them another bone and better luck next time.